And beryman hillyard



(No Mode1.)

A. E. MOSS 8v B. HILLYARD V CARRYING CRATE. Y No. 507,446. Patented Oct. 24, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANN ELIZ-A MOSS, OF LAWSON, MISSOURI, AND BERYMAN HILLYARD, OF

ALLERTON, IOWA.

CARRYING-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,446, dated October` 24, 1893.

Application iiled July 20, 1892. Serial No. 440,684. (No model.)

To all whom it' may concern:

Be it known that we, ANN ELIZA MOSS, residing at Lawson, in the county of Ray and State of Missouri, and BEEYMAN HILLYAED, residing at Allerton, in the county of Wayne and State of Iowa, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carrying-Crates; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in that class of crates orboxes used for holding and carrying eggs, butter, dac.; and our object is to produce a more convenient, strong, cheap and durable crate than those heretofore known.

To this end our invention consists of certain novel features and combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate our invention, Figure l represents a perspective view showing our crate open; Fig. 2 a perspective view showing the crate closed and ready for shipping; Fig. 3 a rear elevation. Fig. 4 isla detail view of the catch.

The reference letter a represents a number of separate sections, preferably three in number which are located one above the other and connected together by hinges b. These hinges are-formed of strips of sheet metal c securely fastened to the back of each section by rivets or screws. The strips c when assembled form as it were, continuous hinges, or in other words a continuous integral piece of metal from one joint to the other, which construction has the advantage of superior strength over separate hinge straps which would be more likely to work loose under the rough usage to which the crate is subject to in transit. The bottom section ais provided with a bottom d. The other two'sections are,

however, open at both bottom and top. This arrangement forms an ordinary box or crate the depth of which may be easily regulated to suit. the convenience of the user. A top e is hinged to the top section by means of elongated extensions of the top sections f of the continuous hinges on the back, which extensions are securely riveted to the top, and their forward ends are each provided with eccentric lock hooks or levers g. The top e consists of a board, plain and free from extensions on its under side, but is provided with transverse strengthening cleats upon its upper side, and the top is given an area sufficient to completely cover that of the upper section of the crate. This lever operates in conjunction with the tie straps h, which are pivoted to the bottom d, of the lowest section a, an eye ft', being formed in the end of said straps through which the levergpasscs. To furthersecure the sections, especially when the tie-straps h are unt'astened, hooks and pins j are secured, one to each section, the hook of one section extending downwardly to the pin on the next. This arrangement is chiefly used when the tie straps h are loose and part of the sections thrown back, as in the position shown by Fig. 1.

In filling our improved crate the rods and hooks are all unfastened and the first two sections thrown back. This leaves the bottom section exposed and accessible for filling. After it has been filled the next section may be thrown over it and locked in place by its hook. The successive sections are each filled as the first and their hooks secured. When all the sections have been filled and the lid or top closed, the tie rods are secured in place and the crate and its contents are ready for shipment.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a carrying crate of the class described, the combination with a series of separable sections of substantially uniform size and shape and adapted to fit one upon the other, of continuous hinges having the joints opposite the contiguous edges of the sections and fastened to the backs thereof, a top having a plain under surface and adapted to cover the entire area of the top section, said top being secured to elongated extensions of one of said hinges, eccentric fastening levers Intestimony whereof We afx our signatures on the ends of sald extensions, and a front in the presence of two Witnesses. strap hinged to lthe lower section and pro- ANN ELIZA MOSS vided Wlth a loop-hole adapted to be enffaeed 4 5 by the eccentric lever, whereby the setins LERYMAN HILLYARD are held together While in transit, all arranged lVitnesses: and adapted to operate in the manner and R. A. FORD,

for the purpose specified. J. P. SCOTT. 

